A tragedy struck the Wakefield community when a local college became the site of a school shooting on Monday, Aug. 28, just days after the school year officially began. Students at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) have taken these past few weeks to heal and develop a routine after many were disrupted by the event.

The emotional toll that the tragedy had on students and staff is everlasting. Lauren Rochelle, a Wakefield graduate and sophomore at UNC, was on campus during the incident and can attest to the struggles and major changes occurring within the first few days of classes. 

“Although the shooting took a toll on everyone’s mental health –mine included–, the university has done an amazing job getting all students academically back on track, with the professors willing to make any accommodations that better their students academically and mentally,” Rochelle said.

After the shooting, UNC immediately initiated Condition 3, leading to the cancellation of all classes and activities until Thursday, Aug. 30. The much-needed delay in school left many students yearning for a sense of normalcy. Maya Johnson, a sophomore at UNC, witnessed the intense emotions spreading like wildfire around the campus and noticed the wary aftermath that many students are experiencing coming back. 

“I had to go home because I was so freaked out by the event,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely added a lot of stress to my life since we’ve been back too, especially with the pressure to make up assignments.”

Due to the challenging journey towards normalcy for many students, UNC plans to not only implement physical safety precautions but also initiatives to help those who witnessed the shooting with mental health professionals to help them recover. Counseling and psychological services are available to all students and are available on campus. 

Katelyn Mann, a freshman at UNC, found it difficult to establish a routine and adjust to college life after the weeks of constant uneasiness and unknown possibilities following the shooting.

“After the shooting, I think everyone has adopted this tension and unease of ‘what if,’” Mann said. “I think having had a situation like that happen twice in the first quarter of the semester was terrifying and has left everyone very vigilant for the future.”

The emotional toll brought on by the attack has lingered with many students, even after the resumption of classes and activities. 

“Mentally, [the shooting] tore me,” freshman Xander Luzniak said. “I was already struggling to adjust to college and it delayed me getting into a routine.”

To honor the life of the victim of the shooting, a candle-lighting ceremony was held. The vigil was attended by approximately 5000 community members and another 10,000 watched the livestream. In unison, students, staff and family members sang songs, lit candles, spoke and attended the bell tower ringing to mourn the loss of a brilliant professor. Many students, along with Rochelle, attended the vigil and gathered along the belltower where dozens of flowers were brought as a gift from the community. 

“The university has done an amazing job making sure their students are well and that the life that lost was honored,” Rochelle said. 

The efforts of staff and professionals at UNC will not go unnoticed and have led to a sense of unity between residents of North Carolina and people all over the world. 

“The response of the UNC community has been incredible, and it’s empowering to see so many people come together under a common cause,” Johnson said. “I’m grateful for all the support from the Carolina community, and hope that this incident will inspire change for a safer future.”